Mica-splitting machine.



W. COOPER.

MICA SPLITTI'NG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. me.

Patented June 6, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEETI wiliozm Uogjew;

' WA COOPER.

MICA SPLITTING MACHINE.

APPLlCATION FILED MAR. 23, 1916.

Pzlfcnted June 6, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- Mica-Splitting Machines; and I do declare TED .STATEg PATENT UHF WILLIAM acorns, or" wnsr NEWTON, MAssAcHUsErrs.

MICA-SPLITTING MACHINE.

and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and ,use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for splitting sheets of mica into much thinner sheets which are used commercially. The improved machine is of the class which bends the sheets of mica in order to separate the numerous layers thereof, and

the object is to provide an extremely simple machine of this class employing bending rollers so constructed as to gradually rather than abruptly bend the material, thus obviating all danger of cracking the same.

With the foregoing general object in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which:

Figure l is acentral vertical longitudinal section of a machine constructed in accord ance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is' a vertical transverse section taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 1. 1

In specifically describing the construction shown in the drawings above briefly described, similar characters wiilbe placed on corresponding parts throughout the several views, and reference will be herein made to the numerous elements by their respective indices. To this end, the numerals 1 designate a pair of parallel sills from one end of which a pair of bearings 2 rise, while a pair of standards 3 extend from the other ends of said sills, Mounted respectively between the bearings 2 and the standards 3 are front and rear drums 4 and 5 around which an endless belt conveyer 6 of any preferred material passes, the shafts of both drums being equipped with sprockets 6 around which a sprocket chain 7 passes, while the Specification of Letters Patent.

2 and standards 3, are other standards 9- which' are'disposed in pairs, with the stand-' ards of each pair alined transversely of the machine. As shown clearly in Fig. 1, the standards-9 decrease gradually in .height fromthe .inlet end I of the machine to the outlet endO thereof, and said standards carry lower and upper ribbed rollers 11 and 12 respectively which are disposed above and below the upper reach of the conveyer 6. The diameters of'the rollers 11 and 12 decrease gradually from the inlet to the outlet end of the machine as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, said rollers being formed with uninterrupted longitudinal ribs 13 on their peripheries, the ribs of the upper rollers meshing with those of the lower rollers, while the upper reach of the conveyer 6 passes between the intermeshing ribs. The ribs 13 decrease in size from the inlet to the outlet end of the machine, while the spaces between said.

ribs correspondingly decrease.

The function of the ribbed rollers arranged as shown and described is to bend the sheets of mica M as they are fed through the machine on the upper reachof the conveyer 6. Obviously, due to the graduated rollers and ribs, the sheets of mica will be slightly bent and will then gradually be more abruptly bent as they reach the outlet end 0. During this operation, it is essential that either the upper or lower rollers be allowed to yield vertically, and for allowing this movement, the bearings 14 of the upper rollers 12 are shown in the present embodi- Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed Marches, 1916. Serial' No. 86,232.

ment of the invention as mounted slidably in upright guideways 15 formed in the upper ends of the standards 9, coiled springs 16 being housed in said guidewaysabove the bearings 14to normally depress the latter. The tension of the springs 16 may be varied atwill by the use of set screws 17 which control the vertical positions of plates 18 against the upper ends of which the springs 16 bear, said screws being threaded through crown plates 19 which close the upper ends of the guideways 15. 1 Passing the sheets of mica through the machine in the manner set forth, loosens the numerous layers thereof, these layers being separated at the outlet end 0 of the machine by a rubber covered roller 20 which rotates immediately above the drum 5, being forced toward the upper reach of the conveyer 6 by springs 21 carried in guideways 22 formedin the upper ends ofthe standards 3, it being in said guideways that the bear- .ings 23 of said roller 20 are, mounted for-ver- The roller 20 is tical sliding movement. provided with a driving pulley 2d and is I adapted. to be, rotated at a much higher pefio ripheral speed than the drum 5, said. roller traveling in the direction of the arrow at the left of Fig. 1; Thus,

' slide thenumerous layers of mica one upon the other and will thus effectively separate said layers.

In most cases, set screws vided for varying the tens on of the springs i 21. in order that theroller 20 may beheld downwardly with more or less force, accord-. ing to the character of the mica being split.

From the' foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it willbe obvious that I have provided an extremely simple machine for accomplishing the object of the invention, but that it will be highly efficient and. durable.- Furthermore, it is to be understood that although certain specific details have been shown and described, numerous changes may be made within the scope of' theinvention as claimed without sacrificing the main advantages thereof.

1 claim; I

. 1. A. mica splitting machine comprising a M series of opposed vertical standards, a pair of drums disposed one at each end of saidseries, one of said drums being driven, an endless belt passing around the two drums, a lower series of rollers .beneath the upper reach of said belt and having uninterrupted longitudinal ribs-on their'peripheries", said rollers beingmounted between I the low'en the roller 20 will 25 will ,be pro- ,ers, drums at ends of the aforesaid standards, an upper series of rollers disposed above the upper reach of'the belt and likewise having uninterrupted longitudinal ribs on their peripheries, the ribs of the. upper and lower rollers being in mesh while said upper reach v of the belt passes between said intermeshed ribs, the width of said ribs decreasing in the direction of travelof said upper reach of the belt, vertically movable bearings for the upper series of rollers and carried by the standards, means/for forcing said bearings normally downward, a swiftly rotating sepa rating roller above the delivery end of the upper reach of thebelt, and means for forcing said separating roller toward said reach, 2. A; mica splitting machine comprising a lower series of rollers having longitudinal uninterrupted ribs on their peripheries, an upper series of such rollers having their ribs in mesh with those on the lower rollers, an endless belt whose upper reachis interposed between the up ,er and lowerseries of rolle opposite, ends of the -machine around which said belt passes,'means for driving one of said drums, means for nesses.

WILLIAM COOPER.

Witnesses: I

RosA F. HALLAHAN, FRANK M. COPELAND. 

